This freshwater pearl know as the “The sleeping lion” recently sold for $500,000 at auction in Amsterdam. The pearl is believed to have been found in Chinese waters in the 18th century. The pearl was transported to Europe in the mid 1760’s. The pearl measures 7 cm. in length and weighs more than 100 grams.

Pink Tourmaline is the faceted choice for October’s birthstone. Pink Tourmaline is now available in better qualities than any time in the last century. In fact the light pinks from Brazil are scarcer that near rubellite magenta colors from Mozambique and Nigeria today. The gemstone Tourmaline is also the accepted gem for the fifth and […]

Pliny the Elder called OPAL the most precious gem because it contained all of the other gemstone colors. Australian aborigines held OPAL sacred because the Creator came to earth on a giant rainbow and where he rested was the first OPAL deposit. Queen Victoria bestowed lavish OPAL jewelry on her friends and family, including Czar […]

Peridot dates back about 4,000 years to the island of Zabargad, now belonging to Egypt. Originally, the crusaders called this island in the Red Sea Saint Johns. Peridot is mentioned throughout the Bible and early Christians believed the stone to be sacred. Peridot is considered a stone of Springtime and ancients believed it was a […]

Peridot is one of the few gemstones that comes in only one color – green! However, it can be found in many different shades of green. . . all lighter and darker shades of green in the olivine family. The variances in the green coloring depend on the amount of iron found in the stone. […]

Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May because its color symbolizes the rebirth and renewal that comes with spring. Pantone named Emerald the Color of the Year for 2013 because of the “luxury and elegance it brings to the palette”. The folklore of the Emerald is that the gemstone has the powers to […]

It takes 250 tons of earth to be sifted to find one carat of rough diamond crystals. Only one diamond crystal in a million carats mined will be large enough to cut into a one carat diamond. Diamonds have been found in every color of the rainbow. If the color is vivid the diamond is […]

I recently received an advertisement from a diamond firm that specializes in diamond stud earrings. The company sells one pair of 1 CT., white diamond studs for 45% less than another pair of 1 CT., white diamond studs. Wait a minute, how can they do this? Both pair of diamonds studs weigh the same. Both […]

This blue diamond ring sold in April 2013 for approximately 9.6 million dollars. The ring was made by Bolgari. Trace amounts of boron combined with the carbon atoms are responsible for the diamond’s blue color.

Custom Designs – Our Specialty Since the dawn of history, mankind has held a special fascination for precious metals and gems. Their glitter holds a mystic beauty even in their natural state. The inner glow emanating from within inspired the ancient craftsman to create and mold an art form that has been handed down from […]